At midnight on Jan. 1, 2022, Alaskans will be able to legally drive their all-terrain vehicles on many of the state’s roads, as a new regulation, signed by Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, goes into effect.
Roads with speed limits of 45 mph or less, and in areas where ATVs are not otherwise banned by municipal governments, will be shared by standard vehicles, commercial vehicles, bicycles, and now ATVs.
ATVs must have certain safety features to be road-worthy, including a headlight, rear-facing red taillight, and a rear-facing red brake light. ATVs must have brakes, a muffler, carburetor and throttle. Drivers must have drivers licenses and insurance. Passengers must wear helmets. Young children must be in carseats and helmeted. If seatbelts are installed, they must be used. Snow machines are not included in the new regulations for on-road travel.
Anchorage is one location where ATVs are not permitted on the roads, because municipal rules apply, and prohibit them. In places like Bethel, however, several roads will be open to ATVs, including Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, which stretches from the airport to downtown, First Avenue, BIA Road, Standard Oil Road, Front Street, and Hangar Lake Road.
Craig Compeau, of Compeau’s Inc. in Fairbanks said it has been a record year in both snowmachine and ATV sales. People are spending more time outdoors because of Covid-19, he said.
“There are 11 other states that have ATV on-road laws,” said Compeau Most of them are western states, but Louisiana is one as well. “We’ve talked to law enforcement elsewhere and they are not seeing the problems that some people are worried about. You still have to be a licensed driver. Some of the states are making revenue by selling permits, so there’s a revenue source for the state, if you want.”
Compeau added, “If there is only one state out of the 50 that allows four-wheelers on the roads, it should be Alaska. It saves on wear-and-tear on gas on your main vehicle. These are all four-strokes and are clean driving, and they burn a teaspoon of gas compared with your regular vehicle.”
